OUR HIGH SCHOOL

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXX, Issue 8494, 27 July 1933, Page 2

OUR HIGH SCHOOL

DEPARTMENTAL ORGANISATION

GRADING OP CHILDREN ACADEMIC AND CRAFTS SIDES The Waihi High School is now one complete unit, comprising Forms I to VI, I and II being regarded as the intermediate department and 111, IV, V and VI, the secondary department, the organisation being on the same lines as the Marlborough College, the Rongotai College, the Whangarei High School and the Waitaki Boys’ High School. It is the aim of an intermediate department to cater for both the academic and the non-aca-demic child. A child when entering the school is graded on the previous headmaster’s estimate, the special entrance examination and a standard intelligence test. Exploratory work is done in the first and second year, and those showing special aptitude on the academic side are recommended to aim at the matriculation examination in their fourth year secondary. Others are advised to get their free place in the second year and follow a cultural and practical course along commercial, rural and home-craft lines. COMMERCE AND ARTS Mr D. Scott is now attached to the staff as a permanent instructor in commercial subjects, teaching bookkeeping, shorthand, typewriting and allied commercial work, and Miss Esme Bruce, arts and crafts teacher, recently appointed by the Education Board, commenced her duties about three weeks ago. Since then much valuable work has been accomplished and a good many articles in the work craft, in both complete and incomplete states, have been made by the pupils. A representative of the “Telegraph” who paid a visit to the school on Tuesday afternoon, was shown an array of articles in the course of making, also of the finished articles, the handiwork of the pupils. These included shopping baskets and work baskets made of cane and raffia, waste-paper baskets, fruit bowls and trays, made of cane, with three-ply foundations. Other articles on view were made from reed-loom, a new material from pine wood-pulp and wire as manufactured in Auckland and recently placed on the New Zealand market. This material, more pliable than cane, is very easily manipulated and is used in the manufacture'of many useful articles, including baskets, fire-side stools, nut bowls and decorated tinholders. The material is obtainable in a variety of colours. Samples of articles of suede leather in the making proved of particular interest and embraced snap albums, shopping kits, moccasins, wallets, serviette ringg. pocket books, blotters and writing cases. The materials are supplied by the funds of the school.

DIVISION OF CRAFTS In the art crafts there are two main branches, one pictorial work and the other more or less commercial. The commercial side comprises lettering, ticket-writing and poster work. A course in original design, which will be directly applied to the craft work, will shortly be commenced. A sketch club has been formed with a voluntary membership, the members to meet every week after ordinary school hours for the purpose of holding friendly discussions on the work the children' were doing in their ow.i time at their homes. At intervals the club members would take the field on Saturday mornings in search of suitable subjects to develop their talents and fire their artistic zeal. The principal of the school, Mr F. R. Slevin, stated that on the occasion of the school gala day at the end of the year a special feature would- be a display of technical work,* choking, sewing, wood-work, art design and craft work.